Chess Puzzle #1D1mu — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1103 · Beginner · crushing, intermezzo, kingside attack, middlegame, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rook a1; bishop e3; knights e4/h7; pawns a2/b2/c2/h3/h5. Black: king g8; queen c4; rook a8; bishops c8/g7; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/e7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxe4 — queen c4→e4, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Nxf6+ — knight h7→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies exf6 (pawn e7→f6, captures knight).
  3. Best move: Qxe4 — queen f3→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, intermezzo, kingside attack, middlegame, short. The key move Nxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/ppp1p1bN/4pnpp/7P/2q1N3/4BQ1P/PPP5/R5K1 b - - 0 19

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.